Victoires de la Musique 2009: The Best of the French Musical Scene?

By Joffre Agnes 23/01/2009

February is definitely a time for music. In fact, major musical awards are about to take place on both sides of the Channel: the perfect opportunity to weigh up the situation and to be perfectly up to date, musically speaking!

What’s going on exactly? In France, on 28th February, the Victoires de la Musique 2009 award will be taking place. This ceremony aims to recognise French artists who have produced particularly interesting work throughout the year. More specifically, it is the musical Cérémonie des Césars. And, who deserves to be awarded according to the Victoires de la Musique? Let’s have a look at the shortlist and discuss it!

Do the Victoires de la Musique highlight the best of the French musical scene?

What do you think?

Alain Bashung

As far as I’m concerned, I’m quite surprised to see that the superstar, this year, is definitely Alain Bashung with four nominations: male artist of the year, best song for “Résidents de la République”, best album for “Bleu Pétrole” and best showman. If he is not short listed for Revelation of the year it’s only because everybody knows he has been leading the French musical scene for more than 20 years and has already got three Victoires de la Musique. But still, it seems that if the organizers could have done that, they would! Personnaly, I’m not such a fan and I would rather they chose someone doing something newer but still, Bashung is a great musician, an impressive crooner and his last album is undeniably good.

Christophe Maé

Then, he is followed by Christophe Maé, Camille and The Do with three nominations each.

Well, Christophe Maé has released a new album this year but it was an acoustic one with only three new titles… Why should he be awarded then? Ok I’m not objective because it’s definitely not my style at all, and, it is true that he went on tour and sold a lot of albums this year. But still, three nominations? Come on!

Camille

Camille and The Do are more pleasant to find there.

Camille hardly needs an introduction anymore. Everybody thought she could not do anything better than her first two albums. Personally, I have to confess I though she was just a temporary fancy, a stroke of genius without any future. And yet, the young girl came back with “Music Hole” in April 2008 and showed that she is now one of the safest bets of the French musical industry.

The Do

And what a pleasure to see The Do be such a revelation! I totally back this nomination and I’m glad to see something which has really shattered the French musical scene this year on the shortlist. The Do is an explosive duo composed of the Finnish-French singer Olivia and the musician Dan who released their first album called "A Mouthful" in 2008. She brings a love of rock and pop, he is more into jazz and movie music and together they have created a sound that is both surprising and interesting. Sung in English and sometimes in Finnish, their atmosphere is nimble and metaphorical. A must-hear, though I have to admit that Olivia's high-pitched voice and the Do's saturated sound as in "The Bridge is broken" can occasionally get too much...

Berry

I felt the same enthusiasm at seeing Berry in the revelation shortlist. She is less famous but still, her album is definitely one to be discovered. Her sensual voice and her deep lyrics have already seduced Keren Ann, Benjamin Biolay and Portishead. No less.

Yael Naïm

We could also be pleased about Yael Naim’s nomination as best female artist of the year. With a multi-coloured collection of pop-folk ballads sung in French, Hebrew and English, Yael Naim has definitely found a place in the French musical world and it’s always a pleasure to listen to her CD or to see her on stage. A great musician.

Moriarty

Moriarty has made its entry on the shortlist as well. With its strange universe somewhere between France and the United States, between folk music, rock, country and blues, the "family" of five musicians, artists and story-tellers now seem much removed from the cellars and bars where they used to play. Nominated for « Scenic revelation of the year »: It's not the first time I tell you about them!

Julien Doré

Please note that Julien Doré’s phenomenon has resisted the buzz of his reality TV show. Whether you like his style or not, you cannot deny that he deserves his place in this selection at least for his originality.

Eventually I want to draw your attention to the presence of the BB Brunes on the list, which definitely gives more cred to these Parisian baby rockers as worthy musicians. I’m not excatly please with this particular inclusion, but that is a matter of personal taste...

Nouvelle Vague

So, this shortlist isn't bad and even has some very good points. Still there are many noticeable absentees. I mean, currently a lot of musicians are shattering the French scene. I personnally would have be very happy to see groups such as Nouvelle Vague or Cocoon which have blurred traditional styles, Benjamin Biolay who signed a beautiful album, Birdy Nam Nam who proved once again that electro is music, Kavinsky who send me back to the 80’s, Daft Punk because it’s simply Daft Punk, Ayo who calmed my nerves more than once, Feist because she is outstanding and almost French and so many others. Maybe it's time to forget Julien Clerc, Alain Bashung and Francis Cabrel or at least not to consider them as the best anymore. Make way for the new generation!

M.I.A

Well, I guess not everyone can be awarded but, when I compared the French sellection to that of the Brit’s awards (which take place on 18 February), I could not help but think that our selection no way near as interesting. In fact, if they were competing with Coldplay, Radiohead, M.I.A, Duffy, Adele or the Last Shaddow Puppets, I'm not entirely sure this sellection of France's best would make the final cut...